The Fortress Przemyśl – Transborder project Siedliska group (Eng)

The Fortress Przemyśl. Transborder project Siedliska group.

(Перемишльська фортеця. Транскордонний проект групи Сєдліска)

Agata Gajdek (landscape architect) and Olena Zapolska (landscape architect)

The aim of this is to create the Cultural Park Programme of Strategic Landscape of the

Przemysl Fortress - ‘Grupa Siedliska’. The areas of investigation here are the relics of Przemysl

Fortress which lie on the border between Ukraine and Poland. Surprisingly, the research only

proved the uniqueness and special quality of this place which reveals itself in little human activity

in changing the landscape structure.

The project opens up by a detailed analysis of all the key factors which were to determine

historical, geographical, perspective view and cultural background.

Most of the area under investigation is located in Ukraine, that is why the analysis started

with Ukraine modern fortification review. First, a simplified scheme was made (pic. 1). Placing

fortification of different countries and defense systems on the Ukrainian territory map, shows

predominance of towered fortification system. A second scheme (pic. 2) presents randomly

selected objects compared on time line, with appropriate weaponry.

Further research involved the study of landscape and architectural units measured with

JARK method. The areas in question have been divided into architectural and landscape units to

assure proper results and allow further evaluation of the area in terms of its present-day utility and

historical value. The results are plain to see demonstrating that historical significance prevails,

which might be indicative of good conservation of these areas. If one is to provide adequate

maintenance for the particular stretch of land, the final part of the analysis was the selecting of

criteria as well as means of preservation for each of these units.

The idea that stands behind it is based on preserving actual quality and state of the landscape

while simultaneously making it available for tourism. The elaboration entails a series of possible

solutions to achieve this:

§ traffic solutions – pedestrian crossings, cycle routes, roundabout traffic
§ environmental policy based on achieving balance between open space areas, wooded

lands and built-up areas.

§ tourism and recreation – introducing organized infrastructure to ease traffic tourism.
§ creating conservation zones encompassing pieces of land with fortification relics and

historical districts such as Bykow, Pleszowice, Popowice, which may boast antique infrastructure.

Two project solutions to the forts (I/1) 'Lysiczka' and (I/5) 'Popowice' were suggested within

the framework of this study. On the whole they are just extreme examples of how to modify and

organize the space of historic importance in order to further reconstruct and maintain it in the

form of a permanent ruin.

The project scheme of the Cultural Landscape Park - 'Grupa Siedliska' aims at assuring

conditions to improve the attractiveness of landscape. All the adaptation solutions presented

herein will potentially contribute to cultural tourism while exposing the natural beauty and value

of this location.